Do Muslims Believe in the Old Testament?

Muslims are taught to believe in the Torah and the Gospel as books God gave to Moses and Jesus. The Qur’an also calls itself a criterion over what came before, and it says a party distorted words and wrote scripture with their own hands. That is not the same as taking the Protestant Old Testament, in place of the Qur’an, as the Muslim scripture.

Key Points

• Qur’an 2:136Qur’an 2:136 · Saheeh InternationalSay, [O believers], "We have believed in Allāh and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants [al-Asbāṭ] and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."Qur’an 2:136 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says to believe in what was given to Moses and Jesus and to the prophets, and to make no distinction between any of them. (1)
• Qur’an 3:3Qur’an 3:3 · Saheeh InternationalHe has sent down upon you, [O Muḥammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the GospelQur’an 3:3 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says God revealed the Torah and the Gospel, confirming what was before the Book sent down on Muhammad. (2)
• Qur’an 4:136Qur’an 4:136 · Saheeh InternationalO you who have believed, believe in Allāh and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allāh, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray.Qur’an 4:136 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source tells believers to believe in the Book sent down on the Messenger and the Scripture sent down before. (3)
• Qur’an 5:44Qur’an 5:44 · Saheeh InternationalIndeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allāh] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allāh, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price [i.e., worldly gain]. And whoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers.Qur’an 5:44 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says the Torah was sent down with guidance and light, and that the prophets judged by it. (4)
• Qur’an 5:46Qur’an 5:46 · Saheeh InternationalAnd We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.Qur’an 5:46 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says Jesus confirmed the Torah, and that he was given the Gospel, confirming the Torah. Qur’an 5:48Qur’an 5:48 · Saheeh InternationalAnd We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allāh has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allāh willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allāh is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.Qur’an 5:48 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source calls the Qur’an a confirmation of what preceded it and a criterion over it. (4)
• Qur’an 2:75Qur’an 2:75 · Saheeh InternationalDo you covet [the hope, O believers], that they would believe for you while a party of them used to hear the words of Allāh and then distort it [i.e., the Torah] after they had understood it while they were knowing?Qur’an 2:75 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source and Qur’an 2:79Qur’an 2:79 · Saheeh InternationalSo woe to those who write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This is from Allāh," in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.Qur’an 2:79 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source speak of a party who distorted the words after they understood them, and of people who write scripture with their own hands and say it is from God. (5)
• Qur’an 10:94Qur’an 10:94 · Saheeh InternationalSo if you are in doubt, [O Muḥammad], about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so never be among the doubters.Qur’an 10:94 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says that if Muhammad is in doubt, he should ask those who have been reading the Scripture before him. (7)

These verses are Qur’an. Which Muslims accept which hadith? is the label for a collection. A Shia reader and a Sunni reader are both being shown the Qur’an here.

Do Muslims Believe God Gave the Torah?

Qur’an 5:44Qur’an 5:44 · Saheeh InternationalIndeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allāh] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allāh, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price [i.e., worldly gain]. And whoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers.Qur’an 5:44 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source, Saheeh International, is the verse that names the Torah as sent down. (4)

Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allāh] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allāh, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price [i.e., worldly gain]. And whoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers.

Qur’an 5:44 · Saheeh International

Qur’an · accepted by Muslims

Qur’an 5:43Qur’an 5:43 · Saheeh InternationalBut how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allāh? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers.Qur’an 5:43 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source asks how they come for judgment while they have the Torah, in which is the judgment of God. Qur’an 5:46Qur’an 5:46 · Saheeh InternationalAnd We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.Qur’an 5:46 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says Jesus, the son of Mary, confirmed what came before him in the Torah, and that he was given the Gospel, in which was guidance and light. Qur’an 5:47Qur’an 5:47 · Saheeh InternationalAnd let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allāh has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed - then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.Qur’an 5:47 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says to let the People of the Gospel judge by what God has revealed in it.

Qur’an 2:136Qur’an 2:136 · Saheeh InternationalSay, [O believers], "We have believed in Allāh and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants [al-Asbāṭ] and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."Qur’an 2:136 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says “we have believed” in what was revealed to Muhammad and in what was given to Moses and Jesus. Qur’an 3:3Qur’an 3:3 · Saheeh InternationalHe has sent down upon you, [O Muḥammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the GospelQur’an 3:3 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says he revealed the Torah and the Gospel. Qur’an 4:136Qur’an 4:136 · Saheeh InternationalO you who have believed, believe in Allāh and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allāh, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray.Qur’an 4:136 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source names the Scripture sent down before. Who is Allah? is the name the Qur’an uses for God, set beside the God of the Bible. This page does not fold into that one.

Does the Qur’an Say the Earlier Books Were Changed?

Qur’an 2:75Qur’an 2:75 · Saheeh InternationalDo you covet [the hope, O believers], that they would believe for you while a party of them used to hear the words of Allāh and then distort it [i.e., the Torah] after they had understood it while they were knowing?Qur’an 2:75 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says a party used to hear the words of God and then distort them after they had understood them. Qur’an 2:79Qur’an 2:79 · Saheeh InternationalSo woe to those who write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This is from Allāh," in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.Qur’an 2:79 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says woe to those who write the scripture with their own hands and then say it is from God. (5)

So woe to those who write the “scripture” with their own hands, then say, “This is from Allāh,” in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.

Qur’an 2:75 · Saheeh International

Qur’an · accepted by Muslims

Qur’an 4:46Qur’an 4:46 · Saheeh InternationalAmong the Jews are those who distort words from their [proper] places [i.e., usages] and say, "We hear and disobey" and "Hear but be not heard" and "Rāʿinā," twisting their tongues and defaming the religion. And if they had said [instead], "We hear and obey" and "Wait for us [to understand]," it would have been better for them and more suitable. But Allāh has cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.Qur’an 4:46 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says that among the Jews are those who distort words from their places. Qur’an 5:13Qur’an 5:13 · Saheeh InternationalSo for their breaking of the covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hardened. They distort words from their [proper] places [i.e., usages] and have forgotten a portion of that of which they were reminded. And you will still observe deceit among them, except a few of them. But pardon them and overlook [their misdeeds]. Indeed, Allāh loves the doers of good.Qur’an 5:13 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says they distort words from their places and have forgotten a portion of what they were reminded of. (6) Those verses are about distorting, concealing, and writing. They are not a sentence that says the Protestant Old Testament was replaced by a blank book.

Was the Bible corrupted?, the Islamic dilemma, and what does the Qur’an say about the Bible? stay on that argument. What is the Injil? is the Gospel the Qur’an names. Jesus in the Qur’an and the Gospels is who those books say he is.

Is the Protestant Old Testament the Muslim Scripture?

Qur’an 5:48Qur’an 5:48 · Saheeh InternationalAnd We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allāh has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allāh willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allāh is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.Qur’an 5:48 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says the Book was revealed in truth, confirming what preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it, and that God prescribed to each a law and a method. The Qur’an is the criterion in that verse. The earlier books are not set aside by name, and they are not installed in place of the Qur’an. (4)

Qur’an 10:94Qur’an 10:94 · Saheeh InternationalSo if you are in doubt, [O Muḥammad], about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so never be among the doubters.Qur’an 10:94 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says that if he is in doubt about what was revealed, he should ask those who have been reading the Scripture before him. Qur’an 7:157Qur’an 7:157 · Saheeh InternationalThose who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written [i.e., described] in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and prohibits them from what is wrong and makes lawful for them what is good and forbids them from what is evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful.Qur’an 7:157 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, find him written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel. (7) (8) Is Muhammad the prophet of Deuteronomy 18? is that claim. The Torah this site prints is the King James Old Testament, and Deuteronomy 18 is the chapter.

The Christian claim is that those scriptures speak of Jesus, and that he is God. Did Jesus die on the cross? is Qur’an 4:157Qur’an 4:157 · Saheeh InternationalAnd [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, the messenger of Allāh." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.Qur’an 4:157 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source beside the Gospels. What does Messiah mean? is the word the Hebrew scriptures and the Gospels use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Qur’an Mention the Bible?

It names the Torah and the Gospel, and “the Scripture which He sent down before.” It does not list the Protestant table of contents. (3) (2)

Does the Qur’an Say the Bible Was Corrupted?

It says a party distorted words, forgot a portion, and wrote with their own hands. The pages linked above quote those verses and the verses that tell the People of the Gospel to judge by the Gospel.

Do Muslims Believe in the Prophets of Israel?

Qur’an 2:136Qur’an 2:136 · Saheeh InternationalSay, [O believers], "We have believed in Allāh and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants [al-Asbāṭ] and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."Qur’an 2:136 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source names Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus, and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. What do Muslims believe? is the wider confession. What is the difference between Judaism and Christianity? is how this site states the Jewish and Christian readings of the same scriptures.